Dax Moy Personal Training, the UK's Premier Personal Trainer and his elite team in Islington, London
Survival Of The Fittest!
Why exercise becomes more important as we age.
How would you act if you didn't know your age? Chances are, you'd
probably just go out and do the things that you always did and enjoyed.
But now that you've reached that 'certain age', isn't it time to slow
down and take it easy?
No way! If anything, regular physical
activity is even more important in older adults than those with fewer
candles on their cake.
It is now widely accepted that many changes
associated with ageing are not just the 'wear and tear' of an old and
failing machine, but also as a result of inactivity.
Quite simply, our bodies work on a 'use it or
lose it' system of self-maintenance. Ask your legs to carry you to the
shops every day, and your arms to carry the shopping back, and you'll
keep the 'gift' of strength in these areas. Let your family and friends
help out and get it for you, and your body will take back all the
strength it has given you.
Recent studies into ageing have shown that
functional capacity in older adults declines by around 1-2% per year
resulting in a loss of muscular strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility
and bone density. Perhaps not surprisingly, this loss of function has
been shown to be greatly accelerated in those with little or no regular
physical activity.
The reverse of this is also true. Those who
engage in moderate activity most days of the week can reduce the
effects of ageing and even improve their fitness. Several studies into
the processes of ageing have recorded significant improvement in both
strength and cardiovascular fitness in subjects who were over 90 years
old!
It's never too late! No matter how
de-conditioned you may be, your body has the ability to improve. All
you have to do is ask! But how much is enough and what type?
Almost all health professionals agree that as
little as 30 minutes of activity seven days a week can have a dramatic
and positive effect on health and improve function for living. A good
gym or exercise class can provide all the components of a well
structured fitness plan but is by no means the only way to get your 30
minute dose of health.
Walking the dog, washing the car, gardening,
raking leaves or anything that involves moving your large muscle groups
rhythmically, are all perfectly acceptable forms of activity. These
types of activity require you to breathe more rapidly and increase your
heart rate, exercising the most important muscle of all.
The message is quite simple. Do something! Do
anything! Stay active and reap the rewards of a body that doesn't know
how old you are. After all - you're only as old as you feel!
Dax Moy
MPT, PES, MAT